level-coil
nounEtymology A corruption of French lève-cul (“lift the buttocks”).
1
Historical A boisterous and rowdy game formerly played on Christmas, in which players must quickly switch seats at a signal.
- […] so they did, and entred the Parler, found all this leuell coyle, and his pate broken, his face scratcht […]1600, Robert Armin, “How Leanard a leane Foole, playde at slide groate by himselfe after dinner, when his belly was full.”, in Foole Upon Foole, Or, Six Sortes of Sottes, London: William Ferbrand, published 1605:
- A daily Deluge over them does boyle: / The Earth and Water play at Level coyle.1665, Andrew Marvell, The Character of Holland, London: T. Mabb, page 3:
1 more example
- Level-Coile (from the Fr. leuer le Cul, i. to raise or remove the Buttock) is when three play at Tables, or other Game, where onely two can play at a time, and the loser removes his Buttock and sits out, and therefore called also Hitch-Buttock.1656, Thomas Blount, “Level-Coile”, in Glossographia, London: Tho. Newcomb, published 1661:
- Related terms
- musical chairs